Isti Marta Sukma

Tech Policy, Cybersecurity & AI Governance | Indo-Pacific & EU

PhD student in Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Warsaw.
My research lies at the intersection of tech policy, emerging technologies such as cybersecurity, AI, and quantum technologies, with a geopolitical focus on the Indo Pacific and the European Union. I examine how digital governance, security, and power dynamics evolve across regions in response to technological change.

In political science, scholars are often encouraged to choose between being theorists or scientists. I aim to be both.
My work combines conceptual inquiry with computational approaches to address foundational questions about politics and technology.

I am currently developing techno-realism as a political theory that examines how non-state actors such as large technology firms, non-governmental organizations, hackers, and transnational networks reshape data governance, redistribute power, and challenge state-centered understandings of sovereignty, and I am currently building another political theory related to my PhD dissertation.

Bridging theory and method, I combine qualitative coding, network analysis, and text-as-data approaches, including NLP workflows in Python and machine learning assisted analysis. I use these methods to study policy diffusion, cyber governance structures, and security partnership mechanisms across different political and institutional contexts.

Beyond academia, I bring four years of industry experience in digital platforms, content governance, and quality assurance, including work with EU-based technology and consultancy firms. I regularly contribute to The Diplomat and Medium and present my research at international conferences and policy forums. I also serve as Commissioning Editor at E-International Relations.